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São Tomé and Príncipe is a small island developing state off the coast of central Africa, with a population of 225,000 people.

It is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and faces development challenges stemming from structural vulnerabilities such as its geographic isolation, the small size of the national market and dependence on imports. Inflation surged to 25.2 percent in 2023 as global prices of imports and local food prices rose sharply.

São Tomé and Príncipe has achieved significant results in recent decades, increasing food security, reducing poverty, and raising investment in the introduction of local products in school meals.

However, the resilience of the population in the face of disasters, malnutrition and food insecurity in some districts is a concern for the country. About one third of the population lives on less than US$1.90 per day.

The World Food Programme is supporting government efforts to provide a home-grown school feeding programme – with related food security and nutrition policies and programmes – throughout the country by 2030. The programme aims to support smallholder farmers, and to be environmentally and socially sustainable, and gender transformative.

What the World Food Programme is doing in São Tomé and Príncipe

Crisis response

WFP supports the Government by providing assistance to populations facing economic crises, such as the 2021 floods that affected a large part of the population in the north of the country. WFP also provides food and nutrition assistance to schoolchildren.

Partners and donors

Achieving Zero Hunger is the work of many. Our work in Sao Tome and Principe is made possible by the support and collaboration of our partners and donors, including:
Ministry of Education PNASE Ministry of Agriculture CONSAN PNN (National Nutrition Programme)

Contacts

Office

Avenida das Naçoes Unidas, São Tomé, São Tomé and Principe
São Tomé
São Tomé & Príncipe

Phone
+239 12 21383
Fax
+239 12 22935
For media inquiries
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